The NY State Canal System Is Closed Indefinitely

[Dilligas]

Perhaps some of you anticipate using the NYS canal system to get South this Winter.
Don't bet on it. Irene clobbered the systems.

http://www.tug44.org/flood/hurricane...ages/e11-5.jpg

[David M]

NYS is New York State....for those elsewhere in the world.

[zeehag]

wow....she done great job of killing that one. good pic.

[knottybuoyz]

NYS Canal Notice to Mariners

The New York State Canal System - Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga Seneca Canals

[Dilligas]

At this point it seems possible that the Champlain canal system will re-open this year along with the federal lock in Troy but again, this is speculation and should not be used for a decision until a little time passes.
But as far as the Erie goes, fahgedaboudit.

[knottybuoyz]

More pics of the damage to the NYS canal system.

Hurricane Irene Flood 2011

It's gonna be while fixing this mess.

[mbianka]

I took my boat up to Canada via the Erie and Oswego canals in 2002. Interesting trip even if I did have to drop the mast. I wonder if they will even have it open by next season considering the damage.

[S/V Alchemy]

Given the fiscal chaos in much of America, I have to wonder if they will bother fixing it at all. It's nothing but capital costs and throwing a few bucks into a net on a stick at various locks isn't going to cover the millions it will take to rebuild something originally dug by Irish immigrants paid in potatoes.

Oh, well, bye-bye New York City, hello, Cape Breton.

[SabreKai]

Good point. Money for fixing this is going to be hard to find. Pardon me for not knowing this but is the canal system used at all commercially? Is there some reason it should be fixed in order to generate revenue? My understanding is that the canal is used for some power generation but otherwise is more or less a tourist deal.

Correct me if I'm wrong about this but I don't see the state coming up with money in large enough chunks to fix this mess for a bunch of yachties.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by SabreKai

Good point. Money for fixing this is going to be hard to find. Pardon me for not knowing this but is the canal system used at all commercially? Is there some reason it should be fixed in order to generate revenue? My understanding is that the canal is used for some power generation but otherwise is more or less a tourist deal.

Correct me if I'm wrong about this but I don't see the state coming up with money in large enough chunks to fix this mess for a bunch of yachties.

that is exactly why i asked that question early on in this ......if is for commercial use, could get fixed within 5 yrs, if not--------

[Vasco]

There is commercial use of the canal. Not much but the occasional tug and barge or small bulk cement boat. Mostly it's for tourism. There is a company that rents canal boats. I guess they may still be in business (out of Troy) as the Champlain will be navigable but the nicest stretch (the Erie from Waterford to Three Rivers) will, by the looks of it, be closed for a long while.

The Canal Corporation is part of the NY Thruway Authority so that's where the funding comes from. The NYS Thruway authority keeps on raising tolls on the Thruways so I guess there's money someplace.

[AnchorageGuy]

The Champlain canal re-opened yesterday and the clean up of Erie has already begun. The Erie is partially open but will not be back in full operation until next year, but it will re-open. Chuck

Mariners are advised that the Erie Canal is scheduled to reopen for navigation from Lock E-2 in Waterford to below Lock E-8 in Scotia, and from above Lock E-17 in Little Falls to Sylvan Beach, at 7:00 AM on Saturday, September 17, 2011.
The Erie Canal will remain closed from Lock E-8 in Scotia to Lock E-17 in Little Falls until further notice. A tentative schedule for reopening this section of the Canal System should be available on Friday, September 16th and will be published in a subsequent Notice to Mariners.
Mariners should navigate with caution on portions of the Canal System which have recently reopened, be on the lookout for debris, and report any missing or off-station navigational aids to the New York State Canal Corporation at (518) 471-5016.
At the Waterford Canal Harbor, mooring is limited with no services available due to ongoing cleanup operations and repairs. Mariners should call ahead to other marinas and facilities to ensure that docking and services are available.

Chuck

[knottybuoyz]

Erie canal will open for navigation from Nov 24th to Dec 8th.

Capitol Confidential » Canal will open to free trapped vessels

[S/V Alchemy]

Wow, there's a lot of hostility in the comments section. Understandably so, in some cases.

[SabreKai]

Yeh, pity they don't see the fair amount of money that pleasure boats transiting the system leave in local economies. I have no idea how much but I'm pretty sure that during the time it takes to get from Oswego to the upper Hudson, there are several stops for gas, food, entertainment, etc.

Go ahead, close down the canal system. I'm sure the people along the Mississippi Route or the St Lawrence route would like the extra traffic and coin. Besides which, I suspect in about 20-30 years, there are going to be a lot of sorry people that the canal was allowed to close and silt up. Those transport trucks won't keep rolling along for ever. People are so short sighted.